The University of Delhi celebrated its 94th Foundation Day on 1 May, 2016.

The distinguished guests included Hon’ble Mr. Justice Madan B. Lokur, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, all alumni of the University of Delhi. This was a historic occasion with the National Flag being hoisted on top of the Vice Chancellor’s office, Viceregal Lodge for the first time in the University. This was done by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Yogesh Tyagi and the distinguished guests. The University’s distinctive purple flag was also raised by the Vice Chancellor along with the distinguished guests after which tree saplings were planted by each of them.

The dignitaries along with their families visited Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s chamber in the basement of the Viceregal Lodge where they paid tribute to the great freedom fighter by lighting an earthen lamp, offering flowers and observing silence for a few minutes.

As part of the programme in the Convention Hall, the message of the Chancellor of the University, Hon’ble M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India was read out. As in earlier years, awards were conferred upon highly deserving individuals who have rendered exemplary service to the University in the past and present. These awards were under the category of ‘Distinguished Service Awards’ to retired teachers and non-teaching staff and ‘Excellence Awards’ for teachers in service in University Departments and Colleges. The names of the awardees are listed on the website.

After the award ceremony, the three distinguished guests addressed the audience followed by the address of the Vice Chancellor. In his address, Justice Lokur saw his felicitation as an honour for his college and the Faculty of Law. He also talked of the importance of maintaining the same research quality in the University that our students achieve when they go abroad. Justice Sikri, who once taught at the Faculty of Law, suggested that the University should invite active judges and lawyers on a routine basis as ‘Visiting Professor’ to address students. Justice Nariman recounted the history of the Tricolour and how it came to assume its present design with the spinning wheel replaced by Ashoka’s great chakra in 1931.

Mr. Fali S. Nariman, father of Justice Rohinton Nariman also addressed the gathering and said that what he enjoyed most about the function was that old teachers were remembered. According to him, teachers whom we revere and respect have a major influence on us along with our parents. The Vice Chancellor Prof. Yogesh Tyagi, while addressing the audience, emphasized the role of the alumni in the growth of the University and stated that the teachers and the staff have an important role to play in the University and intellectuals as well as teachers never retire.

When the main programme concluded, the dignitaries and guests visited a display of selected innovation projects that are currently underway in various colleges under the Undergraduate Research Initiative of the University. These included projects from diverse fields such as development of an affordable 3D bio-printer, cost-effective biosimilar drugs, solar powered emergent management solutions, Zebrafish as a biosensor for testing water quality and inexpensive water purifiers.

The Foundation Day celebrations thus effectively portrayed the interlinkages of the past with the present of the University of Delhi.